US6369522B1 - Metal halide lamp lumen depreciation improvement - Google Patents

Metal halide lamp lumen depreciation improvement Download PDF

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Publication number
US6369522B1
US6369522B1 US09/608,759 US60875900A US6369522B1 US 6369522 B1 US6369522 B1 US 6369522B1 US 60875900 A US60875900 A US 60875900A US 6369522 B1 US6369522 B1 US 6369522B1
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metal halide
ballast
lamp
halide lamp
lamps
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US09/608,759
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Byron R. Collins
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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Priority to EP01305604A priority patent/EP1168894A3/de
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
    • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
    • H05B41/288—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps without preheating electrodes, e.g. for high-intensity discharge lamps, high-pressure mercury or sodium lamps or low-pressure sodium lamps

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  • the present invention relates to improving the lamp lumen depreciation performance of metal halide HID lamps. More particularly, the invention relates to much improved lamp lumen depreciation performance of Pulse Arc Metal Halide lamps when used with an electronic ballast.
  • the first effort involves increasing the fill pressure in the arc tube of a MH lamp, using a shaped arc tube and eliminating the starter electrode and associated components (bi-metal switch and resistor). An igniter pulse-forming network is then required to start this new lamp.
  • the system is generally referred to as Pulse Arc or Pulse Start.
  • the second effort involves the use of a high frequency electronic ballast where the 60 Hz output frequency is replaced with a 90 kHz output frequency with a sine wave of voltage and current.
  • a ballast designed to operate lamps at 90 kHz is a Delta Power ballast (Delta Power Supply, Inc.). We have found through testing that this ballast will generally improve the LLD of standard MH lamps.
  • a desirable aspect of the present invention is that it provides the advantages and compounded benefits of both heretofore uncombined efforts to improve LLD performance of MH lamps. Still a further desirable aspect of the present invention is that it provides the compounded benefits to as wide a range of lamp wattages as possible, thereby simplifying the design of lamp/ballast lighting systems in general.
  • a high frequency 90 kHz electronic ballast is used to provide starting pulses capable of starting Pulse Arc MH and Pulse Start MH lamps.
  • the ballast is further designed to operate the aforementioned lamps at wattages at least as high as 400 watts.
  • the combination of Pulse Arc and Pulse Start MH lamps with a modified 90 Khz electronic ballast provides LLD performance for MH lamps previously unmatched in the industry.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a metal halide lamp and ballast circuit configuration
  • FIG. 2 is a graphical summary of a life test for a Sylvania PulseArc lamp and MS400/C/BU lamps operated on Delta Coventry electronic ballasts and a magnetic ballast;
  • FIG. 3 is a graphical lumen performance comparison of M400/U lamps operated on CWA ballasts, Delta 90 kHz electronic ballasts and 120 Hz square wave ballasts;
  • FIG. 4 is a graphical lumen performance comparison of electronic ballasts versus magnetic ballasts
  • FIG. 5 is a graphical lumen performance comparison of GE CWA ballasts versus Advance reactor ballasts
  • FIG. 6 is a graphical lumen performance comparison of MH lamps operated continuously versus cycled on and off.
  • FIG. 1 provides a schematic representation of a metal halide lamp circuit configuration that is suitable for application to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is also exemplary of configurations described below that were used for proving the advantages of the present invention.
  • a ballast 10 configured to generate high voltage starting pulses, is connected to a metal halide lamp 11 that contains an arc tube 12 that has main electrodes 13 , 14 sealed into opposing ends of arc tube 12 .
  • the first electrode 13 is connected to one terminal of ballast 10
  • the remaining electrode 14 is connected to the remaining terminal of ballast 10 .
  • each ballast and metal halide lamp assumes the position of ballast 10 and metal halide lamp 11 respectively.
  • FIG. 2 summarizes the results of testing standard Sylvania MH 400 watt lamps of type MS400/C/BU on two different types of ballast, a Delta Power HF 90 Khz electronic ballast and a magnetic ballast (autoreg).
  • Lamp lumen depreciation (LLD) data was collected through 13,000 hours of operation.
  • the curve 16 represents the average trend for lamps on the electronic ballast and the curve 17 represents the average trend for lamps on the magnetic ballast.
  • the results show that the average degradation, in terms of LLD, for lamps on the electronic ballast was approximately only 40 percent that for lamps on the magnetic ballast after 13,000 hours of operation. This test exemplifies typical improvements in LLD performance for this type of lamp when placed on a high frequency electronic ballast.
  • FIG. 1 Lamp lumen depreciation
  • FIG. 3 summarizes the results of testing standard Sylvania MH 400 watt lamps of type M400/U on a 120 Hz square wave electronic ballast, a Delta 90 kHz electronic ballast and a Constant Wattage Autoregulator (CWA) ballast.
  • the trend for lamps on the 120 Hz square wave ballast is identified by the lowest solid line 20
  • the trend for lamps on the CWA ballast is identified by the middle solid line 22
  • the trend for lamps on the 90 kHz electronic ballast is identified by the uppermost solid line 24 .
  • the lamps were all operated on 11/1 cycles twice a day, meaning 11 hours on followed by a 1 hour cooldown, repeated twice daily.
  • FIG. 4 consists of plots of percent foot-candles per watt versus time for individual MH 70 watt lamps tested on Aromat electronic 170 Hz square wave ballasts manufactured by Aromat Corporation and standard magnetic ballasts. Dashed lines 30 , 32 and 34 represent lamps tested on Aromat electronic ballasts. Solid lines 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 and 46 represent lamps tested on magnetic ballasts. The test was started with six lamps on each ballast, however, three electronic ballasts failed during the test.
  • FIG. 5 depicts graphically the results of one such benchmarking test using six Osram Sylvania Inc. (OSI) 320 watt MH lamps, three on one-coil reactor ballasts and three on CWA ballasts.
  • the graph shows LLD depreciation versus hours.
  • the average results for lamps energized by the reactor ballasts are shown by line 50 .
  • the average results for lamps energized by the CWA ballasts are depicted by line 52 .
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the effects of starting lamps on their performance in terms of LLD on electronic ballasts and CWA ballasts.
  • the cycled lamps used an 11/1 cycle, eleven hours on followed by one hour off. All lamps were OSI 400 watt MH lamps.
  • Bold dashed line 74 represents the trend for lamps operated continuously on electronic ballasts.
  • Dashed line 76 represents the trend for lamps cycled 11/1 on electronic ballasts.
  • Bold solid line 78 and solid line 80 represent, respectively, trends for lamps operated continuously and cycled 11/1 on CWA ballasts. The trends show that cycling lamps contributes to their deterioration. Comparable results were found with another major lamp manufacturer's lamps, showing comparable improvements in LLD.
  • the first advantage comes from the effects of fill pressure in the arc tube. Low fill pressures give rise to unacceptably high levels of sputtering damage at startup due to the long mean free path of the gas in the arc tube. Increasing the fill pressure reduces sputtering, however, standard 320 volt ballasts will not start a MH lamp with fill pressures in excess of approximately 33 torr. Pulse Arc lamps allow up to 100 torr but require starting voltages of at least 3,000 volts, however, the high fill pressure reduces sputtering damage, increasing the LLD performance of the lamp.
  • the second advantage comes from the effects of frequency on LLD performance.
  • the two arc tube electrodes alternately serve as cathodes and anodes during successive halves of the alternating voltage cycles.
  • an electrode is serving the role of a cathode, emitting electrons, the electrons are emitted from a very small spot with a current density of approximately 10,000 amps per square millimeter.
  • This high current density gives rise to an almost molten spot of tungsten at a temperature of approximately 2,800 K.
  • the upside to this is that the hot tungsten can emit up to 3 amps of current with only a 10 volt drop, increasing the efficiency of the lamp.
  • the electrode To support a 2,800 K hot spot on the tungsten, the electrode must be operating at a minimum temperature of 1,400 K. A cooler electrode chills the hot spot, thereby losing the efficiency advantages provided by the hot spot. While serving as an anode, there is no hot spot because the electrons arrive randomly over the entire surface of the electrode.
  • a factor in maintaining the hot spot is the frequency of operation because the electrode hot spot is cooling while operating as an anode, making it more difficult to maintain the hot spot.
  • Operating at a line frequency of 60 Hz causes each electrode to serve alternately as a cathode and an anode for 8 milliseconds each. This is a long period of time in terms of the amount of cooling that can occur during operation as an anode.
  • a high frequency electronic ballast operating at 90 kHz, only allows the electrode to operate as an anode for 5.5 microseconds which greatly facilitates maintaining the electrodes at a high temperature with little variation during alternating halves of the cycle. It is the compounding of the above disclosed independent advantages that provides the exceptional and unexpectedly good performance of Pulse Arc MH lamps in combination with electronic sine wave 90 kHz ballasts modified for starting Pulse Arc lamps.

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  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamps And Accessories Thereof (AREA)
  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
US09/608,759 2000-06-30 2000-06-30 Metal halide lamp lumen depreciation improvement Expired - Lifetime US6369522B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/608,759 US6369522B1 (en) 2000-06-30 2000-06-30 Metal halide lamp lumen depreciation improvement
EP01305604A EP1168894A3 (de) 2000-06-30 2001-06-27 Verbesserung des Beleuchtungsrückganges bei Metallhalogenidlampen

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US09/608,759 US6369522B1 (en) 2000-06-30 2000-06-30 Metal halide lamp lumen depreciation improvement

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040257004A1 (en) * 2001-12-21 2004-12-23 Deurloo Oscar J Electronic ballast with ignition and operation control
US20050052134A1 (en) * 2003-07-21 2005-03-10 Varanasi C. V. Dopant-free tungsten electrodes in metal halide lamps
US20070120493A1 (en) * 2005-11-29 2007-05-31 Tambinl Antony J High mercury density ceramic metal halide lamp
US7564192B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-21 General Electric Company HID dimming method and apparatus
US8575866B1 (en) * 2004-02-24 2013-11-05 Musco Corporation Apparatus and method for compensating for reduced light output of a solid-state light source having a lumen depreciation characteristic over its operational life

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5225742A (en) 1991-12-11 1993-07-06 Delta Coventry Corporation Solid state ballast for high intensity discharge lamps
US5610447A (en) * 1992-06-17 1997-03-11 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Wire harness and method of manufacturing the same
US5773937A (en) * 1994-11-18 1998-06-30 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Discharge lamp-lighting apparatus for straightening arc discharge
US5796216A (en) 1993-07-16 1998-08-18 Delta Power Supply, Inc. Electronic ignition enhancing circuit having both fundamental and harmonic resonant circuits as well as a DC offset
US5821696A (en) * 1994-12-02 1998-10-13 Patent-Treuhand Gesellschaft F. Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Method and circuit to start and operate high pressure discharge lamps
US5883475A (en) 1996-06-17 1999-03-16 Delta Power Supply, Inc. Method of avoiding acoustic compression wave resonance in high frequency, high intensity discharge lamps
US5898273A (en) 1997-07-01 1999-04-27 General Electric Company Metal halide lamp with pre-start arc tube heater
US5909082A (en) 1997-05-06 1999-06-01 General Electric Company Starting aid for high intensity discharge lamps
US5914571A (en) 1996-09-03 1999-06-22 Delta Power Supply, Inc. Method for igniting high frequency operated, high intensity discharge lamps
US5942850A (en) * 1997-09-24 1999-08-24 Welch Allyn, Inc. Miniature projection lamp
US5949192A (en) * 1996-08-21 1999-09-07 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Operating apparatus for discharge lamp
US5990633A (en) * 1996-10-23 1999-11-23 Patent-Treuhand-Gessellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh High-pressure discharge lamp having decoupled ignition and load circuits

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59198699A (ja) * 1983-04-27 1984-11-10 株式会社日立製作所 高圧放電灯の点灯方法
US4983889A (en) * 1989-05-15 1991-01-08 General Electric Company Discharge lamp using acoustic resonant oscillations to ensure high efficiency
US5051665A (en) * 1990-06-21 1991-09-24 Gte Products Corporation Fast warm-up ballast for arc discharge lamp
JP3758291B2 (ja) * 1997-04-18 2006-03-22 松下電工株式会社 放電灯点灯装置

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5225742A (en) 1991-12-11 1993-07-06 Delta Coventry Corporation Solid state ballast for high intensity discharge lamps
US5610447A (en) * 1992-06-17 1997-03-11 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Wire harness and method of manufacturing the same
US5796216A (en) 1993-07-16 1998-08-18 Delta Power Supply, Inc. Electronic ignition enhancing circuit having both fundamental and harmonic resonant circuits as well as a DC offset
US5773937A (en) * 1994-11-18 1998-06-30 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Discharge lamp-lighting apparatus for straightening arc discharge
US5821696A (en) * 1994-12-02 1998-10-13 Patent-Treuhand Gesellschaft F. Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Method and circuit to start and operate high pressure discharge lamps
US5883475A (en) 1996-06-17 1999-03-16 Delta Power Supply, Inc. Method of avoiding acoustic compression wave resonance in high frequency, high intensity discharge lamps
US5949192A (en) * 1996-08-21 1999-09-07 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Operating apparatus for discharge lamp
US5914571A (en) 1996-09-03 1999-06-22 Delta Power Supply, Inc. Method for igniting high frequency operated, high intensity discharge lamps
US5990633A (en) * 1996-10-23 1999-11-23 Patent-Treuhand-Gessellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh High-pressure discharge lamp having decoupled ignition and load circuits
US5909082A (en) 1997-05-06 1999-06-01 General Electric Company Starting aid for high intensity discharge lamps
US5898273A (en) 1997-07-01 1999-04-27 General Electric Company Metal halide lamp with pre-start arc tube heater
US5942850A (en) * 1997-09-24 1999-08-24 Welch Allyn, Inc. Miniature projection lamp

Non-Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GE HID Lamps, GE Pulse ARC(TM) Multi-Vapor(C) Lamps, Apr. 1997.
GE HID Lamps, GE Pulse ARC™ Multi-Vapor© Lamps, Apr. 1997.
Product information bulletin on 400 WATT SUPER METALARC(R) Pulse Start Metal Halide Lamp, Osram Sylvania, Oct. 1995.
Product information bulletin on 400 WATT SUPER METALARC® Pulse Start Metal Halide Lamp, Osram Sylvania, Oct. 1995.
Pulse Start Metal Halide Systems, 5/97.
Pulse Start of Metal Halide Lamps for Improved Lumen Maintenance (Nortrup et al.-OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. (Paper for 1995 IES Conference). Citations-Nerac-Search Report Jun. 1999.
Pulse Start of Metal Halide Lamps for Improved Lumen Maintenance (Nortrup et al.—OSRAM SYLVANIA INC. (Paper for 1995 IES Conference). Citations—Nerac—Search Report Jun. 1999.
Specifications-Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure, Osram Sylvania, Oct. 1995.
Specifications—Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure, Osram Sylvania, Oct. 1995.
Starting Mechanisms for HID Lamps, B. R. Collins, May 1994.
Straight Talk (About HID Lighting), G.E. Lighting Systems, Apr. 1993.

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040257004A1 (en) * 2001-12-21 2004-12-23 Deurloo Oscar J Electronic ballast with ignition and operation control
US7019468B2 (en) 2001-12-21 2006-03-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electronic ballast with ignition and operation control
US20050052134A1 (en) * 2003-07-21 2005-03-10 Varanasi C. V. Dopant-free tungsten electrodes in metal halide lamps
US7583030B2 (en) * 2003-07-21 2009-09-01 Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. Dopant-free tungsten electrodes in metal halide lamps
US8575866B1 (en) * 2004-02-24 2013-11-05 Musco Corporation Apparatus and method for compensating for reduced light output of a solid-state light source having a lumen depreciation characteristic over its operational life
US9066401B1 (en) 2004-02-24 2015-06-23 Musco Corporation Apparatus and method for compensating for reduced light output of a solid-state light source having a lumen depreciation characteristic over its operational life
US7564192B2 (en) 2005-10-24 2009-07-21 General Electric Company HID dimming method and apparatus
US20070120493A1 (en) * 2005-11-29 2007-05-31 Tambinl Antony J High mercury density ceramic metal halide lamp
US7474057B2 (en) 2005-11-29 2009-01-06 General Electric Company High mercury density ceramic metal halide lamp

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EP1168894A2 (de) 2002-01-02
EP1168894A3 (de) 2004-01-21

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